Machine for perforating cloth and other materials



" June 9,- 1942.

v F. J. CLARK MACHINE FOR PERFORA'IING CLOTH AND Mum; MATERIALS.

Filed May 19, 194i 7F 6 6:; ATTOIQNEY.

Patented June 9, 1942 OFFICE OTHER MATERIAL MACHINE FOR PERFOR-ATING CLOTH AND v S Frederick J. Clark, Buffalo, N. Y.,v assignor to Eastman Machine Company, Buffalo, N.'Y.

Application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,160

7 claims. (01.164-86) This invention relates to improvements in portable perforating machines of the type that are used for making small diameter holes in cloth or other sheet fabrics or materials while piled in multiple layers or plies so as to enable corresponding perforations to be made by a single operation in a number of plies of material, as for example, for marking the corners of pockets or other parts in the pieces of goods to be made up into garments, and for other more or less analogous purposes. I

Machines for such purposes are known, which comprise an electric motor mounted above a supporting base intended to rest on the pile of material, and having a vertical tool spindle which is rotated by the vertical motor shaft, but is movable axially through the s'haftfor feeding or pressing the tool downwardly into the work or material for perforating it.

These machines, which rest or are supported on the work or pile of material being perforated, are open to certain recognized objections. The pile of material does not provide a firm or stable support for the machine in the use thereof, but allows it to tilt or tip from the vertical, and it is diflicult to hold the machine accurately in the intended perpendicular position necessary to drill vertical holes. As a result, some holes may be cut or drilled perpendicularly and others atone or another angle to the perpendicular, so that the locations of corresponding perforations in pieces of material at different elevations in the pile will differ from each other. Also, in the operation of the machine, and in moving it about to make perforations at different points in the material, it often shifts the piled pieces or plies of material, one upon another, or relatively to each other, so that the perforations in all of the pieces will not register with those of the pattern, or.be made at the same intended locations in the different pieces. This hinders quick, easy operation of the machine and causes inaccuracies in the work, which it is a purpose of the present improvements to obviate.

A primary object of this invention is toimprove perforating or drilling machines used for such purposes, with a view to facilitating and quickening the perforating or drilling operation and insuring greater accuracy in the work.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine of the character mentioned which is of desirable and novel construction, in which the driving motor for the tool is mounted on a support rising from a base which is adapted to rest and be moved about upon .a stationary supporting table or surface beneath the pile of material and on which the pile of material restswhile being perforated, so as to provide a firm or stable support for the machine. and for the material; and in which a guide is provided that steadies and guides the lower portion of the tool, and which can be adjusted up or down to suit piles of material of different thicknesses so as to insure the location of the perforations accurately, as intended, regardless of the height of the pile.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the following specification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawing, and the novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation, partly in section, of a perforating or drilling machine embodying the invention, showing one adjustment of the tool guide.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine showing a different adjustmentof the tool guide.-

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view thereof, enlarged, on line 3'3,'Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view thereof, enlarged, on line 4-4, Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan, enlarged, on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional elevation on line 6-6, Fig. 5. l l I The machine, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a flat base plate l0, preferably having a bevelled, front edge adapted to rest upon a table or other fiat supporting surface, a standard or support II which is rigidly attached to and rises from the base plate adjacent its'rear end, and anarm l2 which is rigidly secured to and projects forwardly from the standard above the base plate, and on which the motor I3 for driving the perforating tool or drill l 5 is stationarily secured. The motor, which is preferably an electric motor of suitable type and construction for the purpose, has a tubular, vertical rotor shaft l4, and the perforating tool I 5 is attached to and extends downwardly from the lower end-of a vertical drive shaft or spindle l6, which passes through and isoperatively connected to rotate with, but isslidable axially in the rotor shaft I4, as for instance,'by means of a driver I 1 secured to the upper end of the rotor shaft and provided with a key 18 adapted to slide in a keyway IS in the tool spindle. The rotor shaft may be journalled in suitable upper and lower bearings 2|], 2|, mounted in the motor casing 22.

The tool spindle l6 extends upwardly beyond the motor and carries at its upper end or portion a head or member 23 in which the spindle freely rotates and which is slidable vertically in an upright tubular casing 24, which is stationarily secured at its lower end on the motor casing 22. Surrounding the tool spindle in the casing 24, between the head 23 and the upper bearing 20 for the rotor shaft, is a coil spring 25 which tends to lift and hold the tool spindle and tool in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The tool is adapted to be depressed or moved downwardly to cause it to penetrate or cut through the material by a suitable operating handle or member 26 which, as shown, surrounds the tool spindle, concentric therewith. This handle, which may be of circular cross section and of suitable external contour to .provide a comfortable grip for the operators hand, is rigidly connected at its upper end, as by .a bridge piece 21, with a sleeve or slide 28 arranged to slide up and down on a vertical guide which, as shown, consists of a tube 29 that may be stationarily secured at its upper end, in any suitable manner, to the motor-supporting arm and at its lower end to an arm 39 fixed to and projecting forwardly from the standard, below the arm |2. The arm 39 may have a ring portion encircling the standard and fixed thereon by'a pin or screw 3|, and the guide tube 29 may be fixed in holes in the arms 3i) and I2 as by pins or screws 32. The handle 26 is connected with the tool spindle so as to move the latter up and down while permitting it to rotate freely within the handle, as for example, by means of a ball bearing 33 comprising an inner ring secured on the lower end of the spindle and an outer ring stationarily secured, as by a screw nut 34, in the handle. The handle is thus held from longitudinal, vertical movement relatively to the spindle and, together with the spindle, is normally held yieldingly up in the raised position shown in Fig. l, by the lifting spring 25 for the spindle.

The tool l may be removably secured to the lower end of the tool spindleby a chuck or device 35 of any usual or suitable construction adapted to be readily operated for securing and releasing the tool so as to permit the use of tools of dillerent diameters or of different types and adapt the same to be readily secured to and detached from the spindle.

In order to steady or guide the free, lower end or portion of the tool l5, so as to cause it to rotate about its true axis without whipping or vibrating, a guide device or bracket 49 is provided. This guide bracket is preferably provided with a bushing 4| removably secured in a hole in the bracket and having an axial hole through which the tool passes and which forms a guide bearing for the lower portion thereof, different bushings appropriate for tools of different diameters or types being furnished.

Preferably the guide bracket is fixed to the lower ends of two parallel, vertical rods 42 and-43, one of which is arranged to telescope or slide vertically in the guide tube 29. The other rod 43, is slidable in a guide hole in the arm'30 and has a clamp or securing device fixed to its upper end and adapted to be secured in vertically adjusted positions on'the guide tube 29 above the handle 26, for holding the guide bracket 49 at different heights. The rods 42 and 43- may be secured, as by pins 45, in vertical holes in the guide bracket 49 and the clamp 44 may be similarly secured on the upper end of the rod 43. As

shown, the clamp 44 is provided with a split ring portion which embraces the stationary guide tube 29 and is adapted to be clamped thereon, to hold the guide at one or another desired height, by a thumb screw 46 passing through one end of the split ring and having a threaded end engaging in a screw threaded hole in the other end of the ring for contracting the ring to clamp it on the guide tube.

In the operation of the machine, when it is desired to drill or make a hole or perforation through a pile of material placed on the base plate |0 beneath the tool, the securing clamp 44 for the tool guide is released and the guide is moved downwardly until the guide bushing 4| for the tool is sufiiciently close to the upper surface of the top layer of material, and the guide is secured at this elevation, whatever it may be, depending upon the thickness of the pile of material to be perforated, by operating the clamp 44 to secure it on the guide tube 29. The operating handle 26 for the tool is held by the spring 25 up against the bottom of the clamp 44 for the tool guide, the tool being thus held up with its lower end at or just below the tapered lower end of the guide bushing 4|, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the tool guide is released and moved down to the desired position over the pile of goods, the operating handle tool spindle and tool are moved downwardly with the guide by the engagement of the clamp 44 with the handle slide. Then, after the motor is started, the tool can be lowered 0r pressed down to perforate the material by depressing the handle which carries the tool spindle and tool down with it. The handle can be lowered until arrested by engagement of the lower end of its slide with the stationary arm 30, at which time the lower end of the tool or drill will have passed through the lowermost layer of goods or material into the hole 41 in the base plate Hi. When the handle is released, the spring 25 will lift it, the tool spindle and tool until the upward movement thereof is arrested by the upper end of the operating handle slide striking the bottom of the clamp 44 for the tool guide.

Since the securing clamp 44 for the tool guide 40 overhangs and is adapted, when the clamp is released, to bear upon the upper end of the operating device 26, the tool guide will be held up by the spring-elevated operating device and will slide on the guide rod and follow the operating device down when lowering the latter to register the point of the tool over the point at which it is desired to make a perforation in the material. The guide bracket will thus maintain its position with the lower end of the tool always in the guide bushing 4| when adjusting the material under the tool for making a perforation. Or, by leaving the tool guide clamped to the guide tube 29, the tool can be lowered by its operating device through the tool guide to register the tool with the work, and the clamp can then be actuated to adjust the tool guide down close to the top of the pile of material and secure it there where it will provide the guide bearing for the lower extremity of the tool just above the pile of material. When the tool guide is secured at the desired elevation, the space left between the clamp and the lower arm 39 allows the necessary downward movement of the operating device to press the tool completely through the pile of material.

I claim as my invention:

1. A perforating machine comprising a flat base adapted to rest stably upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a tool driving motor supported above said base by a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, a vertical tool spindle rotated by said motor and movable axially relatively to the motor and carrying a perforating tool, a tool operating device connected with said spindle and movable vertically for causing the tool to penetrate the material, a guide device for the lower portion of the tool, vertically movable supporting means for said guide device, and a device for releasably securing said supporting means with said guide device at different elevations above said base.

2. A perforating machine comprising a fiat base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, a vertical perforating tool supported from said standard to move vertically toward and from the base, a spring for elevating said tool, an operating device for moving the tool downwardly to penetrate the material, a guide device for the lower portion of the tool supported from said standard above the base, and supported at all times by the standard off of the material to be perforated leaving the material free to be adjusted on said base between the base and said guide device, and means for setting said guid device at different elevations above the base according to variations in the depth of the material.

3. A perforating machine comprising a fiat base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a tool driving motor supported above said base by a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, a vertical tool spindle rotated by said motor and movable axially relatively to the motor and carrying a perforating tool, a tool operating device having a handle portion in which the tool spindle rotates and is held from endwise movement relatively to the operating device, guide means below the motor on which said operating device is vertically slidable, a spring for yieldingly holding said operating device and tool spindle in an elevated position, a guide device for the lower portion of the perforating tool, means on which said guide device is vertically movable, and means for releasably securing said guide device at different elevations above said base.

4. A perforating machine comprising a flat base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a tool driving motor supported above said base by a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, a vertical tool spindle rotated by said motor and movable axially relatively to the motor and carrying a perforating tool, a tool operating device having a handle portion in which the tool spindle rotates and is held from endwise movement relatively to the operating device, a vertical tube supported from said standard on which said operating device is vertically slidable, a spring for elevating said tool spindle and operating device, a guide bracket for the lower portion of the perforating tool, a supporting rod for said guide bracket slidable vertically in said guide tube, a rod attached to and extending upwardly from said guide bracket, and a securing device connected to said rod and constructed to be releasably secured to said guide tube above said operating device for releasably securing said guide bracket at different elevations above said base.

5. A perforating machine comprising a flat base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, an arm projecting from said standard over said base, a tool driving motor mounted on said arm, a vertical tool spindle rotated by said motor and movable vertically relatively to the motor and carrying a perforating tool, an arm projecting from said standard below said first mentioned arm, a vertical guide tube extending between and fixed to said arms, a tool operating device in which said tool spindle rotates and is held from vertical movement relative to the operating device, said tool operating device being slidable vertically on said guide tube, a guide bracket for the lower portion of the perforating tool located above the base and below said lower arm, a rod on which said guide bracket is secured and which is slidable vertically in said guide tube, a rod attached to said guide bracket extending through said lower arm, and a clamp secured to said second rod and embracing said guide tube above said operating device, and means for releasably securing said clamp on said guide rod to set said guide bracket at different elevations above said base.

6. A perforating machine comprising a flat base adapted to rest stably upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a tool driving motor supported above said base by a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, a vertical perforating tool driven by said motor and movable vertically for penetrating the material, a guide device for the lower portion of the perforating tool supported from said standard above said base and supported at all times by the standard off of the material to be perforated leaving the material free to be adjusted on said base between the base and said guide device, and means for setting said guide device at different elevations above the base according to variations in the depth of the material.

7. A perforating machine comprising a fiat base adapted to rest stably upon a supporting surface and on which the material to be perforated is adapted to rest, a tool driving motor supported above said base by a standard rising from the base at one side of the material, a vertical perforating tool rotated by said motor and movable axially up and down relatively to said motor, mean for depressing said tool to penetrate the material, and a guide device for the lower portion of the perforating tool supported above said base leaving a free space for the material between said base and said guide device, said guide device being movable toward and from said base, and means for releasably securing said guide device at different elevations.

FREDERICK J. CLARK. 

